Cello / Viola da Gamba player

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My cello has been in my family since it was made, more than a hundred years ago in Germany. I own a custom made Gamba which was made in 2013 by the master luthier Szabolcs Bárdi of wich I am really proud of. My bow was made by Jacek Wesolowski in 2013. I record with a large diaphragm condenser microphone through an onyx blackjack audio interface into reaper.

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: I think the point of any satisfying job is to be pleased with the process itself, to experience the "flow". And I am proud every time a customer is satisfied with the result.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I always make more and more reference content, if I have time between my orders. I can't run out of ideas what "I have to do". :)

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: A good friend of mine who's a great trumpeter, you can find here: https://soundbetter.com/profiles/66716-gerg%C5%91-bille And of course my husband, who is a bouble bass player: https://soundbetter.com/profiles/242426-miskolczi-mark

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: In my case, this question is devoid of reason, because I play acoustic instruments.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: That I'm only going to deliver a work when it makes me 100% content. I'll work until it's the best that I can do.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: That my work is my hobby, my passion. My husband is also a musician. The most wonderful thing is the mood how we live our life. Almost everything in our life revolves around music. Making it, listening to it discussing it.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: People often ask me how much does my instrument weigh on my back. It is 8 kg. :)

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: Sometimes people ask me why do I wax my bow. :D It's rosin, not wax. The horse hair, which is what bows are made of would be slippery if we "waxed" it. We apply rosin, to make it stick more. :)

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I usually ask about the pitch, I think it's importanat to clear A=440 Hz, 442 Hz or 415 Hz.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: I think any relationship can work if the parties can communicate well with each other and trust each other. I advise you to trust your intuitions and hire someone who is sympathetic to you.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: Besides the mosquito net? :) My instruments, music stand and a "Bach all works", of course.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: All of my life music was my number one plan. I have been doing this since I was 6.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I can play and enjoy every type of music, but my specialty is baroque and early music.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: I like it when music serves an other art form. Be it a movie score,a documentary, an animation or when I have to accompany a dance performance. In this case it would seem that the music is just in the background but in fact it has double the role, double the responsibility.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Trust your intuitions and gut feeling when you choose a performer. Be as precise and open as you can and communicate all of your concerns and preferences. Be open in general.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: In my orders I most often get asked to play in pop songs. In my personal life I prefer baroque and early music. That's why I play on these instrument which are also from the period.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I got reviews more than once saying "she delivered exactly what I imagined". Maybe this is the most important skill in my case: to understand every piece's inner workings and figure out what kind of playing it demands from me.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Mostly when someone hires me, they are looking for a "certain" atmosphere. This mood most often than not is a bit melancholic, slow and sentimental. This is because my instrument's sonority and the attitude can trigger very deep feelings. But fear not! They can also be joyous and happy - as you can see my profile videos. :)

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First I listen the music in question with a notebook and I sketch the structure of the song. And then comes my favorite part: to listen to the song in repeat, while the instrument is in my hand. I improvise until I develop the most fitting accompaniment or solo. After that I have nothing to do just write it down and record it.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: I think there is no such thing as good or bad music, only good or bad interpretation. I think it is about the people, who makes the music. When the musicians in a group look to each other and to the music in a humble manner. When we can almost feel the attention. Maybe this is why free genres of music like experimental music, and improvisation really inspires me.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: The most common work I do is to play a cello solo to a song in progress. Various genres like pop, rock or metal. Beside this I often write and play arrangements for string orchestra. Sometimes I play classical or romantic pieces from great composers like Rachmaninov or Max Bruch which I really enjoy. On the viola da gamba I mostly improvise introductions or interludes for completed songs, and if the song and the customer allows it I love to play more voices than one. I think this can enhance a song a lot.